Cameron 'to support' police deal

David Cameron and Sir Reg Empey at the UUP conference last December

David Cameron has said if he becomes prime minister it would be his inclination to support whatever budget is agreed for devolving policing.

He said the Conservative are committed to devolution - and the uncertainty over the budget could be helped if the government talked to him about it.

Gordon Brown is in Belfast for talks with political leaders in a bid to resolve the policing issue.

The Tory leader also said he wanted to improve relations with Stormont.

Speaking on Monday he said if elected he planned to be "a prime minister for the entire UK".

As delegates gathered for the Tories' annual conference in Manchester he spoke of creating a "Council of the Nations", with political leaders from Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey is to address delegates later this week.

Jim Nicholson who was elected as both a Conservative and Unionist MEP last June is expected to attend.

It follows the Conservative and Ulster Unionist parties' decision to fight elections in Northern Ireland on a joint ticket and under a new name.

The pact will operate during general and European elections, but the two parties will remain independent of each other and have stressed it is not a merger.